GB1192207A - Seal Cartridge for Fluid Coupling for Continuous Flow Centrifuge. - Google Patents

Abstract

1,192,207. Centrifugal separator. BECKMAN INSTRUMENTS Inc. 13 Oct., 1967 [14 Oct., 1966], No. 46778/67. Heading B2P. In a fluid coupling for connecting the rotor interior of a continuous flow centrifuge with stationery sample liquid supply and discharge apparatus, a seal cartridge 90 includes a rotatable sealing element 100 having upper and lower transverse sealing surfaces 148, 150, a cavity 142 for receiving the centrifuge rotor shaft 24 and inlet and outlet passages 154, 152 interconnecting the upper surface 148 of the sealing element 100 with the cavity 142, upper and lower non-rotating seal members 102 and 104 held in sealing engagement .with the surfaces 148 and 150 respectively of the sealing element 100, the upper seal member 102 having liquid sample inlet and outlet passages 164. 162 in communication with the inlet and outlet passages 154, 152 respectively in the sealing element 100, and a spring 106 for biasing the seal members 102, 104 and the sealing element 100 into sealing engagement. The rotor shaft 24 is screwed into the cavity 142 and has axial and radial bores 28, 30 in communication with an annular chamber 146 formed between the shaft and the sealing element 100 and in which the inlet passages 154 open. A centrifuged liquid discharge tube 26 extends from the interior of the centrifuge rotor through the shaft bore 28, into the outlet passage 152. The sealing element 100 and the seal members 102, 104 are contained with radial clearance in a sleeve 96 in the top of which is screwed a cap 98 having axial clearance 176 from the seal member 102 and provided with inlet passages 134 communicating via an annular groove 136 with the passages 164 in the seal member 102. The sleeve 96 is contained with clearance 95 within a housing 50 which is secured to the top of a vacuum-damper bearing 10 mounted over the vacuum chamber which houses the centrifuge rotor. The central outlet passage 162 in the seal member 102 communicates with a centrifuged liquid discharge bore 60 in the housing 50 via a central passage 130, 132 in the cap 98 and tubing 62. Spaces 92, 94 above and below the seal cartridge 90 permit the latter to ride up and down within the housing 50 to accommodate vertical movements of the rotor and shaft assembly. A sample liquid outlet conduit 68 and a centrifuged liquid outlet conduit 68, 64 are formed in the housing 50. During operation of the centrifuge, coolant is conducted through passages 68, 72, through a port 112 in the sleeve 96, around the rotating sealing element 100 and then out via a port 114 and passages 74, 20. The clearance space 95 allows the cartridge 90 to tilt and translate laterally. Clearance spaces 156, 176, 182 permit tilting and lateral displacements of the sealing element 100 and seal members 102, 104 as a unit. O-sealing rings 78, 120, 122, 140, 172, 174 also function to centre the elements with which they are associated and provide supports therefor to resiliently accommodate the various modes of translation.